Fire-proof wall and ceiling



(No Model.) J. SMITH.

. PIRE PROOF WALL AND CEILING.

i No. 345,001. Patnted July 6, 1886.

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NrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SMITH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO'.

NRE-PROOF WALL AND CEILING.

ESEECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,001, dated July 6, 1886.

Application filed April 7, 1886.

To all whoml it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SMITH, of Clevoland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FireProof Valls and Oeilings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in socalled fire-proof walls and ceilings in which metal laths having angular edges of considerable depth are secured and extend crosswise of the joists, studs, or iron girders, as the case may be. The laths are placedY usually from a foot to eighteen inches (more or less) apart, and support slabs made of suitable refractory material, the same having been previously molded in its grooved edges to engage the angular edges of the laths. After the laths and slabs are in position the cavities of the laths are filled with the same refractory material in a plastic condition, and as soon as this lling hardens the wall or ceiling is ready to receive the nishing coat, that may be of any of the varieties in common use, the object being to provide a cheap and durable so-called tireproof wall or c eiling77 that will not crack or show thelaths, and that will brace and strengthen the joists, studs, girders, or whatever the supporting structure may be.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective showing the construction and manner of securing my improved tire-proof ceiling to iron girders. Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in perspective and detail. Fig. 3 is a View in perspective showing a suitable framework for molding the fire-proof slabs.

A represents the laths, and B the fire-proof slabs. The former are of metal, preferably galvanized sheet metal. The sheets are eut lengthwise and the strips usually from four to five inches (more or less) in width. These strips are bent to approximate the form shown in Fig. 2, the central portion, a, remaining flat for abutting the joists, studs, or what-ever they may be attached to. The parts a are bent outward at, perhaps,an angle of forty-iive degrees, (more or less.) The extreme edges a y are perhaps a half inch (more or less) in width, and are bent toward each other so as to converge sharply. Theselaths may be'uailed to wooden joists, studs, 85e., or may be secured to iron girders O by means of hooks A or other suitable device. If hooks are employed for this purpose, they are preferably secured to the laths by a single bolt or rivet, and may be turned crosswise of the lath in placing the latter against the iron girders, after which, by turning the hooks back to their place, they are made to hook over the flanges of the girders.

Suitable refractory or so-called fire-proof materiaW-such, for instance, as calcined plaster, various kinds of cements, clay, &c. are molded into slabs B, of uniform width, usually from twelve to eighteen inches, (more or less,),and of suitable length, so that they can be conveniently handled, and with grooved edges b,to correspond with and engage the an gular edges of the laths. These slabs are inserted between the laths with the ends of the slabs abutting each other. rIhe joists, studs, or girders are first spaced off and the laths secured thereto at suitable intervals, except th at one end of each lath for, perhaps, two or three feet is left unfastened. The laths are not easily bent iu a direct line in either direction, but have little torsional resistance, by reason of which the free end of the lath is easily twisted by the thumb and finger and bent downward and to one side far enough to admit the slabs, the other edge of the latter having first been placed against the other lath. The slabs are slid along endwise tot-heir place, and as each tier is filled the free ends of the laths are fastened. After the laths and slabs are in position and suitably secured, asv aforesaid, the cavities of the laths are lled with the same refractory material in the plastic condition, the filling B being shown more clearly in Fig. 2. As soon as the filling hardens the walls or the ceiling are ready for the finish, which may be hard-finish, sand-finish, or any of the different varieties in use.

The ironlathsbrace the joists, studs,or girders to which they are attached, and, as the laths do not shrink, they hold the laths and filling rmly for all time. These iron laths IOO do not show through the plastering, even when the edges are but slightly covered by the finish.

A convenient mold for making the slabs B 5 is had by placing two pieces of the iron lath parallel and suitable distances apart and detachable, securing them by Wooden cross- .pieces A?. This fraaie may be placed on a pallet or board, thus forming a mold into which I D the fire-proof material may be placed whilein a plastic condition, no other implements being necessary than a shovel and a straightedge for striking off the mold. The parts of the frame are then detached and removed and 15 the molded material, by means of the board or a pallet, is set aside to harden. It requires but little skill or labor to mold these slabs, and it is found that walls and ceilings constructed according to my invention cost less 2o than ordinary plaster, excepting the cost of the iron laths. The material for the latter is cut and rolled into shape at a small advance of the cost of the sheet metal.

In lire-proof Walls and ceilings, the same 25 consisting, essentially, of metal laths, slabs of suitable refractory material inserted between the laths, the slabs and 4laths having corresponding angular or male and female edges, and a filling of refractory material in the cavi- 3o ties of the laths, the parts being arranged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof 4I sign this specification,in the presence of two witnesses, this 30th day of March, 1886.

JAMES SMITH.

Witnesses:

Claras. H. DORER, ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

